Indulge in the perfect blend of decadence and delicacy with our Dark Chocolate Crème Brûlée. This luxurious dessert balances the rich, velvety flavor of dark chocolate with a light, creamy texture that melts in your mouth. Topped with a perfectly crisp caramelized sugar crust, each spoonful delivers a symphony of smooth chocolate and satisfying crunch, creating an irresistible finale to a special meal.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups whipping cream
2 cups half and half
8 ounces dark or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (bars, not chips)
8 large egg yolks, beaten
1/3 cup plus 8 tablespoons sugar
Whipped cream, if desired
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 300°F.
Bring cream and half and half to boil in heavy large saucepan. Turn off heat. Add chocolate and allow to sit for one minute. Then begin to gently stir until chocolate melted and smooth.
Whisk yolks and 1/3 cup sugar in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture. Strain.
Divide custard among eight 3/4-cup custard cups. Place cups in large baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake until custards are set, about 50-60 minutes. Remove from water; chill 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat broiler. Sprinkle each custard with 1 tablespoon sugar. Broil until sugar turns golden, watching closely to avoid burning, about 3 minutes. Allow custards to cool before serving.
Serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream, if desired. Alternately, it’s especially nice to add a few drops of Grand Marnier to the whipped cream and garnish with a dusting of fresh orange zest.
YIELD: Serves 8.
